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08-22-2015, 09:00 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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Grey Tank# 2 leak into underbelly
We're on the road and noticed what we believe to be grey water from Tank #2 (Kitchen Sink only) collecting in the underbelly. I'm trying to correlate it to possible causes. So far it looks like it might be related dumping because we first saw water flowing between the underbelly and the frame behind the steps after we dumped.
I drilled a few small "drain" holes through the "budging" section of the underbelly to allow most or at least more of the water to "dry it out" before I check further.
I was wondering if anyone has had a similar situation and can offer suggestions.
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Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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08-22-2015, 09:09 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seaford, De
Posts: 2,377
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pretty much impossible to diagnose a leak on the internet. All you can do is drop 1 or more of the underbelly panels and see what the cause is. Your going to have to anyhow to access and fix it.
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David & Lynn 2014 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 327 RLKS 2016 Ford F350 Lariat CC Dually
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08-22-2015, 10:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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I've isolated the source of the water collecting in the underbelly to the grey tank#2 waste valve. I don't know yet whether it is a cracked valve body or a seal, but it will be replaced when we return home.
Removing the underbelly cover in my Sabre would involve lowering or removing the gas line and removing many screws so my plan is to cut an access opening to expose the valve for servicing. I will also cut one for the black and Grey#1 valves while I'm at it for the future if/when needed.
I will then make a patch to cover the openings. It's too bad Sabre didn't provide removable access panels for waste valves in the first place to make service and maintenance easier. Maybe someone will read this and add that to the new models.
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Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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08-24-2015, 10:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: China Grove, NC
Posts: 321
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My front Gray tank leaked and it ended up being a bad seal or that it was never sealed from the factory around the top of the tank where the drain pipe actually went into the tank. It only leaked when the tank got full. And then the water would run down the pull handle that I pulled to empty the tank. It took me calling the factory and having them call my dealer to get the problem fixed. My dealer tried to tell me it had an expansion valve on top of the tank and was suppose to leak when it was full.
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08-24-2015, 10:50 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MA
Posts: 1,830
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Can you unscrew the under panels and slide out from under the copper propane lines? There might be a way to get it out.
Other than that, your doing the next best thing.
Good luck.
Vin.
__________________
2015 HW296
2006 HW256 (previous pup)
2013 Chevy Tahoe
Equalizer WDH 10000#
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08-24-2015, 11:37 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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More data...I heard water hitting the inside of the underbelly when the tank was nearly full. Then it stopped when the tank was emptied to 2/3 full. So I'm wondering if I have a leaking level sensor. Waiting now for a call back from Sabre Service. I want to talk to the A team before I start unscrewing or cutting.
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Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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08-24-2015, 11:40 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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BTW.. I can see the top drain opening from the kitchen sink and it looks dry.
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Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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08-24-2015, 02:27 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 423
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On the motorhome (Newmar) that I had it had an overflow on or near the top of the freshwater tank. It had an overflow hose that was outside the underbelly so it would leak on to the ground without getting inside the underbelly of motorhome.
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2015 Flagstaff 26VFKS
TV - 2014 F150 Crew Cab 5.0L
WDH - 1,200 Equalizer
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08-24-2015, 02:53 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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I just talked with Gary G. of Sabre. He believes that my problem is cause by a vent hose that probably came off. I didn't realize that the grey tanks had vent tubes....similar to the fresh tank vent and in addition to the plumb roof vent.
Looks like I will be experiencing the underbelly dropping procedure when I get back home if a few days.
Thanks all for you comments
__________________
Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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08-24-2015, 02:58 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pirates55
My front Gray tank leaked and it ended up being a bad seal or that it was never sealed from the factory around the top of the tank where the drain pipe actually went into the tank. It only leaked when the tank got full. And then the water would run down the pull handle that I pulled to empty the tank. It took me calling the factory and having them call my dealer to get the problem fixed. My dealer tried to tell me it had an expansion valve on top of the tank and was suppose to leak when it was full.
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How does someone like that Even become Service technician. Does BS like that have a customer go away satisfied, Ever?
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08-24-2015, 03:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: China Grove, NC
Posts: 321
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I told the dealer I wouldn't except their answer and I left the trailer there. I called Sabre and Gary Grisby called the dealer and explained to them that they were wrong and told them how to fix the problem. I assume that some folks would have took the answer and left. I had owned other campers that didn't do this so I knew better and I was under warranty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom48
How does someone like that Even become Service technician. Does BS like that have a customer go away satisfied, Ever?
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08-24-2015, 04:16 PM
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#12
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Boss Ox & Drovergirl
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: N.E. Ohio Snow Belt
Posts: 1,341
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We had a similar problem but with our Black Tank -- UGH! The tank slipped off the brackets and came separated from the discharge pipe, allowing waste to drip/drain in the underbelly. It was under warranty at the time and the dealer did a good job of resetting and reinforcing the stays, and disinfected the entire underbelly.
The problem is, even on yours, you have to remove the underbelly panels just to see what the heck is going on.
Yes, all the tanks have to have a vent tube otherwise you'd get a vacuum and the water wouldn't drain. on our Hemi RK, the galley vent is actuall on the outside wall.
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Mark, Vicki, & Scout THE dog
2015 Hemisphere 282RK
2016 GMC 3500HD Duramax dually
1992 Goldwing Aspencade
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08-24-2015, 06:48 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Grand Island
Posts: 307
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We picked up our new 2015 Sabre 5th Wheel (33RETS) in December, packed it, then took off for Florida. Sitting outside we noticed the underbelly dripping water. We called our dealer back home in WNY and he talked us thru a few things, still dripped. We also drilled a hole in the underbelly to let the water drip out better. We thought we pinned it down to the shower, the runners for the sliding glass doors was not glued down good, water would gush out if you pushed down on the runners with your hands. Had the Mobile repair guy come to our camper and he checked everything and did not find the source of the leak. FR does not like mobile RV repair guys, they want you to go to a dealer. No dealer in Florida would touch us unless we bought it there. Had to call FR and get permission for Mobile Guy to fix it. After hours of him crawling thru every nook & cranny - he said he would try one more thing. FOUND IT!! It was our bathroom sink - the pipe was never attached!!! Because we don't use that sink all that much, the water problem was not happening all the time. So he made the repair, we paid him and sent the bill to our dealer back home and they paid us back. Life was good from then on in
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Nikita
2020 Chevy Silverado Diesel 2500HD
2015 Sabre 33 RETS 5th Wheel
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08-24-2015, 07:19 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Morgantown, WV
Posts: 104
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Same Problem with Sabre
I just had the same problem with my new Sabre. They had to replace the gray tank because one of the bracket fittings on the tank was cracked. They said it is nearly impossible to patch these brackets because they always leak again.
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08-24-2015, 10:52 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 134
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We have a 2014 Sabre 32BHOK. Had very similar issues. shower leaking and gray tank #2 leaking into underbelly. The only thing you can do to even begin to find your leaks and fix them is to cut the underbelly open to get access to the tanks and the valves. I had to drop over 1/2 of my underbelly in order to fix everything. The stuff mentioned above plus issues with fresh water tank. It sucks, its PIA but if you want to fix the stuff right the much of that underbelly has to come open.
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08-26-2015, 05:11 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
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Leak Found--- now What
Now at home base I was able to "lower" the underbelly. (Lower?? Talk about an understatement) and can see the leak was not as previously suspected. It looks like some sort of small slit or hole that opens wider with tank pressure. It is located on the tank just before the drain valve fitting is attached, but it looks to me to be in the casting of the tank, not near the welded on valve fitting.
The pic on the top was at about 1/4 full. The other was about 2/3 full.
I'll check with the dealer tomorrow to discuss options.
__________________
Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
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08-26-2015, 05:28 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 134
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Wow. what a PIA for you. Just more poor quality control issues.
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08-26-2015, 07:13 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Morgantown, WV
Posts: 104
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Replace the tank unless you plan to trade or sell it to some other poor sucker.
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08-28-2015, 11:59 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 21
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If your RV is out of warranty you might consider doing a repair of the tank yourself. I had a similar crack in a black holding tank on a previous 5th wheel. I found a product (Plasti Mend) which did an excellent job of repairing the crack. I feel that the repair area actually resulted in being stronger then the original tank. On Amazon it is listed for sale along with user comments. It's not cheap but then again it's cheaper then the alternative. I highly recommend it. Here is the Amazon website. http://www.amazon.com/Plasti-Mend-Pl...0780519&sr=8-2
__________________
2002 F250 Ford Super Duty 7.3 PS (67K miles)
2014 Palomino Columbus 320RS Grey/Charcoal
Nights camped in 2015 98 and counting
Nights camped in 2014 186
Nights camped in 2013 130
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08-28-2015, 03:53 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 134
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I have also used Plasti-Mend. Also JB Weld. Both products work very well and didn't leak again. Most auto parts stores carry JB Weld, so does Walmart.
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